diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py b/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
index 700f6bb..0da6cfc 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@
         else:
             value = '{%s}' % _join(value)
     else:
-        if isinstance(value, basestring):
-            value = unicode(value)
-        else:
+        if isinstance(value, str):
+            value = unicode(value, 'utf-8')
+        elif not isinstance(value, unicode):
             value = str(value)
         if not value:
             value = '{}'
@@ -1456,11 +1456,11 @@
 
     def image_names(self):
         """Return a list of all existing image names."""
-        return self.tk.call('image', 'names')
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call('image', 'names'))
 
     def image_types(self):
         """Return a list of all available image types (e.g. phote bitmap)."""
-        return self.tk.call('image', 'types')
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call('image', 'types'))
 
 
 class CallWrapper:
@@ -1574,7 +1574,10 @@
         if len(wlist) > 1:
             wlist = (wlist,) # Tk needs a list of windows here
         args = ('wm', 'colormapwindows', self._w) + wlist
-        return map(self._nametowidget, self.tk.call(args))
+        if wlist:
+            self.tk.call(args)
+        else:
+            return map(self._nametowidget, self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call(args)))
     colormapwindows = wm_colormapwindows
     def wm_command(self, value=None):
         """Store VALUE in WM_COMMAND property. It is the command
@@ -3374,8 +3377,11 @@
         Valid resource names: background, data, file, foreground, maskdata, maskfile."""
         Image.__init__(self, 'bitmap', name, cnf, master, **kw)
 
-def image_names(): return _default_root.tk.call('image', 'names')
-def image_types(): return _default_root.tk.call('image', 'types')
+def image_names():
+    return _default_root.tk.splitlist(_default_root.tk.call('image', 'names'))
+
+def image_types():
+    return _default_root.tk.splitlist(_default_root.tk.call('image', 'types'))
 
 
 class Spinbox(Widget, XView):
@@ -3744,7 +3750,7 @@
 
     def panes(self):
         """Returns an ordered list of the child panes."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, 'panes')
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call(self._w, 'panes'))
 
 ######################################################################
 # Extensions:
diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_extensions.py b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_extensions.py
index 56d32e5..8301f87 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_extensions.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_extensions.py
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@
         name = myvar._name
         x = ttk.LabeledScale(variable=myvar)
         x.destroy()
-        self.assertEqual(x.tk.globalgetvar(name), myvar.get())
+        if x.tk.wantobjects():
+            self.assertEqual(x.tk.globalgetvar(name), myvar.get())
+        else:
+            self.assertEqual(float(x.tk.globalgetvar(name)), myvar.get())
         del myvar
         self.assertRaises(Tkinter.TclError, x.tk.globalgetvar, name)
 
@@ -59,8 +62,10 @@
         x.destroy()
 
         # variable initialization/passing
-        passed_expected = ((2.5, 2), ('0', 0), (0, 0), (10, 10),
+        passed_expected = (('0', 0), (0, 0), (10, 10),
             (-1, -1), (sys.maxint + 1, sys.maxint + 1))
+        if x.tk.wantobjects():
+            passed_expected += ((2.5, 2),)
         for pair in passed_expected:
             x = ttk.LabeledScale(from_=pair[0])
             self.assertEqual(x.value, pair[1])
@@ -123,7 +128,7 @@
         self.assertNotEqual(prev_xcoord, curr_xcoord)
         # the label widget should have been repositioned too
         linfo_2 = lscale.label.place_info()
-        self.assertEqual(lscale.label['text'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(lscale.label['text'], 0 if lscale.tk.wantobjects() else '0')
         self.assertEqual(curr_xcoord, int(linfo_2['x']))
         # change the range back
         lscale.scale.configure(from_=0, to=10)
@@ -145,15 +150,20 @@
         # The following update is needed since the test doesn't use mainloop,
         # at the same time this shouldn't affect test outcome
         x.update()
-        self.assertEqual(x.label['text'], newval)
+        self.assertEqual(x.label['text'],
+                         newval if x.tk.wantobjects() else str(newval))
         self.assertGreater(x.scale.coords()[0], curr_xcoord)
         self.assertEqual(x.scale.coords()[0],
             int(x.label.place_info()['x']))
 
         # value outside range
-        x.value = x.scale['to'] + 1 # no changes shouldn't happen
+        if x.tk.wantobjects():
+            conv = lambda x: x
+        else:
+            conv = int
+        x.value = conv(x.scale['to']) + 1 # no changes shouldn't happen
         x.update()
-        self.assertEqual(x.label['text'], newval)
+        self.assertEqual(conv(x.label['text']), newval)
         self.assertEqual(x.scale.coords()[0],
             int(x.label.place_info()['x']))
 
diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_functions.py b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_functions.py
index b8f08a5..39e1dec 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_functions.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_functions.py
@@ -394,8 +394,10 @@
             ('name', 'no_minus', 'value'))
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, ttk._list_from_layouttuple,
             ('something', '-children')) # no children
-        self.assertRaises(ValueError, ttk._list_from_layouttuple,
-            ('something', '-children', 'value')) # invalid children
+        import Tkinter
+        if not Tkinter._default_root or Tkinter._default_root.wantobjects():
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, ttk._list_from_layouttuple,
+                ('something', '-children', 'value')) # invalid children
 
 
     def test_val_or_dict(self):
diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_style.py b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_style.py
index 9b34b2f..e90eeea 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_style.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_style.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
         style = self.style
         style.map('TButton', background=[('active', 'background', 'blue')])
         self.assertEqual(style.map('TButton', 'background'),
-            [('active', 'background', 'blue')])
+            [('active', 'background', 'blue')] if style.tk.wantobjects() else
+            [('active background', 'blue')])
         self.assertIsInstance(style.map('TButton'), dict)
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_widgets.py b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_widgets.py
index 5ba3420..64eaf61 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_widgets.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/test/test_ttk/test_widgets.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
         widget = self.create()
         self.assertEqual(widget['class'], '')
         errmsg='attempt to change read-only option'
-        if tcl_version < (8, 6):
+        if tcl_version < (8, 6, 0): # actually this was changen in 8.6b3
             errmsg='Attempt to change read-only option'
         self.checkInvalidParam(widget, 'class', 'Foo', errmsg=errmsg)
         widget2 = self.create(class_='Foo')
@@ -383,15 +383,21 @@
 
         # testing values with empty string set through configure
         self.combo.configure(values=[1, '', 2])
-        self.assertEqual(self.combo['values'], ('1', '', '2'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.combo['values'],
+                         ('1', '', '2') if self.wantobjects else
+                         '1 {} 2')
 
         # testing values with spaces
         self.combo['values'] = ['a b', 'a\tb', 'a\nb']
-        self.assertEqual(self.combo['values'], ('a b', 'a\tb', 'a\nb'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.combo['values'],
+                         ('a b', 'a\tb', 'a\nb') if self.wantobjects else
+                         '{a b} {a\tb} {a\nb}')
 
         # testing values with special characters
         self.combo['values'] = [r'a\tb', '"a"', '} {']
-        self.assertEqual(self.combo['values'], (r'a\tb', '"a"', '} {'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.combo['values'],
+                         (r'a\tb', '"a"', '} {') if self.wantobjects else
+                         r'a\\tb {"a"} \}\ \{')
 
         # out of range
         self.assertRaises(Tkinter.TclError, self.combo.current,
@@ -401,7 +407,8 @@
 
         # testing creating combobox with empty string in values
         combo2 = ttk.Combobox(values=[1, 2, ''])
-        self.assertEqual(combo2['values'], ('1', '2', ''))
+        self.assertEqual(combo2['values'],
+                         ('1', '2', '') if self.wantobjects else '1 2 {}')
         combo2.destroy()
 
 
@@ -655,9 +662,11 @@
         child = ttk.Label()
         self.paned.add(child)
         self.assertIsInstance(self.paned.pane(0), dict)
-        self.assertEqual(self.paned.pane(0, weight=None), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.paned.pane(0, weight=None),
+                         0 if self.wantobjects else '0')
         # newer form for querying a single option
-        self.assertEqual(self.paned.pane(0, 'weight'), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.paned.pane(0, 'weight'),
+                         0 if self.wantobjects else '0')
         self.assertEqual(self.paned.pane(0), self.paned.pane(str(child)))
 
         self.assertRaises(Tkinter.TclError, self.paned.pane, 0,
@@ -712,20 +721,25 @@
         cbtn = ttk.Radiobutton(command=cb_test, variable=myvar, value=0)
         cbtn2 = ttk.Radiobutton(command=cb_test, variable=myvar, value=1)
 
+        if self.wantobjects:
+            conv = lambda x: x
+        else:
+            conv = int
+
         res = cbtn.invoke()
         self.assertEqual(res, "cb test called")
-        self.assertEqual(cbtn['value'], myvar.get())
+        self.assertEqual(conv(cbtn['value']), myvar.get())
         self.assertEqual(myvar.get(),
-            cbtn.tk.globalgetvar(cbtn['variable']))
+            conv(cbtn.tk.globalgetvar(cbtn['variable'])))
         self.assertTrue(success)
 
         cbtn2['command'] = ''
         res = cbtn2.invoke()
         self.assertEqual(str(res), '')
         self.assertLessEqual(len(success), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(cbtn2['value'], myvar.get())
+        self.assertEqual(conv(cbtn2['value']), myvar.get())
         self.assertEqual(myvar.get(),
-            cbtn.tk.globalgetvar(cbtn['variable']))
+            conv(cbtn.tk.globalgetvar(cbtn['variable'])))
 
         self.assertEqual(str(cbtn['variable']), str(cbtn2['variable']))
 
@@ -813,10 +827,15 @@
 
 
     def test_get(self):
+        if self.wantobjects:
+            conv = lambda x: x
+        else:
+            conv = float
+
         scale_width = self.scale.winfo_width()
         self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(scale_width, 0), self.scale['to'])
 
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(0, 0), self.scale['from'])
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get(0, 0)), conv(self.scale['from']))
         self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), self.scale['value'])
         self.scale['value'] = 30
         self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), self.scale['value'])
@@ -826,32 +845,37 @@
 
 
     def test_set(self):
+        if self.wantobjects:
+            conv = lambda x: x
+        else:
+            conv = float
+
         # set restricts the max/min values according to the current range
-        max = self.scale['to']
+        max = conv(self.scale['to'])
         new_max = max + 10
         self.scale.set(new_max)
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), max)
-        min = self.scale['from']
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get()), max)
+        min = conv(self.scale['from'])
         self.scale.set(min - 1)
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), min)
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get()), min)
 
         # changing directly the variable doesn't impose this limitation tho
         var = Tkinter.DoubleVar()
         self.scale['variable'] = var
         var.set(max + 5)
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), var.get())
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), max + 5)
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get()), var.get())
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get()), max + 5)
         del var
 
         # the same happens with the value option
         self.scale['value'] = max + 10
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), max + 10)
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(), self.scale['value'])
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get()), max + 10)
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get()), conv(self.scale['value']))
 
         # nevertheless, note that the max/min values we can get specifying
         # x, y coords are the ones according to the current range
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(0, 0), min)
-        self.assertEqual(self.scale.get(self.scale.winfo_width(), 0), max)
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get(0, 0)), min)
+        self.assertEqual(conv(self.scale.get(self.scale.winfo_width(), 0)), max)
 
         self.assertRaises(Tkinter.TclError, self.scale.set, None)
 
@@ -1205,6 +1229,8 @@
         self.tv.column('test', width=50)
         bbox_column0 = self.tv.bbox(children[0], 0)
         root_width = self.tv.column('#0', width=None)
+        if not self.wantobjects:
+            root_width = int(root_width)
         self.assertEqual(bbox_column0[0], bbox[0] + root_width)
 
         # verify that bbox of a closed item is the empty string
@@ -1244,12 +1270,15 @@
         # return a dict with all options/values
         self.assertIsInstance(self.tv.column('#0'), dict)
         # return a single value of the given option
-        self.assertIsInstance(self.tv.column('#0', width=None), int)
+        if self.wantobjects:
+            self.assertIsInstance(self.tv.column('#0', width=None), int)
         # set a new value for an option
         self.tv.column('#0', width=10)
         # testing new way to get option value
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.column('#0', 'width'), 10)
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.column('#0', width=None), 10)
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.column('#0', 'width'),
+                         10 if self.wantobjects else '10')
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.column('#0', width=None),
+                         10 if self.wantobjects else '10')
         # check read-only option
         self.assertRaises(Tkinter.TclError, self.tv.column, '#0', id='X')
 
@@ -1462,11 +1491,14 @@
         # unicode values
         value = u'\xe1ba'
         item = self.tv.insert('', 'end', values=(value, ))
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, 'values'), (value, ))
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None), (value, ))
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, 'values'),
+                         (value,) if self.wantobjects else value)
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None),
+                         (value,) if self.wantobjects else value)
 
-        self.tv.item(item, values=list(self.tv.item(item, values=None)))
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None), (value, ))
+        self.tv.item(item, values=self.root.splitlist(self.tv.item(item, values=None)))
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None),
+                         (value,) if self.wantobjects else value)
 
         self.assertIsInstance(self.tv.item(item), dict)
 
@@ -1476,17 +1508,21 @@
 
         # item tags
         item = self.tv.insert('', 'end', tags=[1, 2, value])
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, tags=None), ('1', '2', value))
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, tags=None),
+                         ('1', '2', value) if self.wantobjects else
+                         '1 2 %s' % value)
         self.tv.item(item, tags=[])
         self.assertFalse(self.tv.item(item, tags=None))
         self.tv.item(item, tags=(1, 2))
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, tags=None), ('1', '2'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, tags=None),
+                         ('1', '2') if self.wantobjects else '1 2')
 
         # values with spaces
         item = self.tv.insert('', 'end', values=('a b c',
             '%s %s' % (value, value)))
         self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None),
-            ('a b c', '%s %s' % (value, value)))
+            ('a b c', '%s %s' % (value, value)) if self.wantobjects else
+            '{a b c} {%s %s}' % (value, value))
 
         # text
         self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(
@@ -1503,19 +1539,24 @@
         self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item), {'A': 'a', 'B': 'b'})
 
         self.tv.set(item, 'B', 'a')
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None), ('a', 'a'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None),
+                         ('a', 'a') if self.wantobjects else 'a a')
 
         self.tv['columns'] = ['B']
         self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item), {'B': 'a'})
 
         self.tv.set(item, 'B', 'b')
         self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item, column='B'), 'b')
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None), ('b', 'a'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None),
+                         ('b', 'a') if self.wantobjects else 'b a')
 
         self.tv.set(item, 'B', 123)
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item, 'B'), 123)
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None), (123, 'a'))
-        self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item), {'B': 123})
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item, 'B'),
+                         123 if self.wantobjects else '123')
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.item(item, values=None),
+                         (123, 'a') if self.wantobjects else '123 a')
+        self.assertEqual(self.tv.set(item),
+                         {'B': 123} if self.wantobjects else {'B': '123'})
 
         # inexistent column
         self.assertRaises(Tkinter.TclError, self.tv.set, item, 'A')
diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/ttk.py b/Lib/lib-tk/ttk.py
index 89f7374..25e988b 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/ttk.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/ttk.py
@@ -295,6 +295,9 @@
             indx += 2
 
             if opt == 'children':
+                if (Tkinter._default_root and
+                    not Tkinter._default_root.wantobjects()):
+                    val = Tkinter._default_root.splitlist(val)
                 val = _list_from_layouttuple(val)
 
             opts[opt] = val
@@ -315,6 +318,8 @@
     if len(options) % 2: # option specified without a value, return its value
         return res
 
+    if Tkinter._default_root:
+        res = Tkinter._default_root.splitlist(res)
     return _dict_from_tcltuple(res)
 
 def _convert_stringval(value):
@@ -327,6 +332,14 @@
 
     return value
 
+def _to_number(x):
+    if isinstance(x, str):
+        if '.' in x:
+            x = float(x)
+        else:
+            x = int(x)
+    return x
+
 def tclobjs_to_py(adict):
     """Returns adict with its values converted from Tcl objects to Python
     objects."""
@@ -397,8 +410,8 @@
         or something else of your preference. A statespec is compound of
         one or more states and then a value."""
         if query_opt is not None:
-            return _list_from_statespec(
-                self.tk.call(self._name, "map", style, '-%s' % query_opt))
+            return _list_from_statespec(self.tk.splitlist(
+                self.tk.call(self._name, "map", style, '-%s' % query_opt)))
 
         return _dict_from_tcltuple(
             self.tk.call(self._name, "map", style, *(_format_mapdict(kw))))
@@ -455,8 +468,8 @@
             lspec = "null" # could be any other word, but this may make sense
                            # when calling layout(style) later
 
-        return _list_from_layouttuple(
-            self.tk.call(self._name, "layout", style, lspec))
+        return _list_from_layouttuple(self.tk.splitlist(
+            self.tk.call(self._name, "layout", style, lspec)))
 
 
     def element_create(self, elementname, etype, *args, **kw):
@@ -468,12 +481,12 @@
 
     def element_names(self):
         """Returns the list of elements defined in the current theme."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._name, "element", "names")
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call(self._name, "element", "names"))
 
 
     def element_options(self, elementname):
         """Return the list of elementname's options."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._name, "element", "options", elementname)
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call(self._name, "element", "options", elementname))
 
 
     def theme_create(self, themename, parent=None, settings=None):
@@ -507,7 +520,7 @@
 
     def theme_names(self):
         """Returns a list of all known themes."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._name, "theme", "names")
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call(self._name, "theme", "names"))
 
 
     def theme_use(self, themename=None):
@@ -570,7 +583,8 @@
         matches statespec and False otherwise. If callback is specified,
         then it will be invoked with *args, **kw if the widget state
         matches statespec. statespec is expected to be a sequence."""
-        ret = self.tk.call(self._w, "instate", ' '.join(statespec))
+        ret = self.tk.getboolean(
+                self.tk.call(self._w, "instate", ' '.join(statespec)))
         if ret and callback:
             return callback(*args, **kw)
 
@@ -669,7 +683,7 @@
     def bbox(self, index):
         """Return a tuple of (x, y, width, height) which describes the
         bounding box of the character given by index."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "bbox", index)
+        return self._getints(self.tk.call(self._w, "bbox", index))
 
 
     def identify(self, x, y):
@@ -682,7 +696,7 @@
         """Force revalidation, independent of the conditions specified
         by the validate option. Returns False if validation fails, True
         if it succeeds. Sets or clears the invalid state accordingly."""
-        return bool(self.tk.call(self._w, "validate"))
+        return bool(self.tk.getboolean(self.tk.call(self._w, "validate")))
 
 
 class Combobox(Entry):
@@ -709,6 +723,8 @@
         element at position newindex in the list of values. Otherwise,
         returns the index of the current value in the list of values
         or -1 if the current value does not appear in the list."""
+        if newindex is None:
+            return self.tk.getint(self.tk.call(self._w, "current"))
         return self.tk.call(self._w, "current", newindex)
 
 
@@ -863,7 +879,7 @@
     def index(self, tab_id):
         """Returns the numeric index of the tab specified by tab_id, or
         the total number of tabs if tab_id is the string "end"."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "index", tab_id)
+        return self.tk.getint(self.tk.call(self._w, "index", tab_id))
 
 
     def insert(self, pos, child, **kw):
@@ -898,7 +914,7 @@
 
     def tabs(self):
         """Returns a list of windows managed by the notebook."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "tabs") or ()
+        return self.tk.splitlist(self.tk.call(self._w, "tabs") or ())
 
 
     def enable_traversal(self):
@@ -981,7 +997,7 @@
         constrained to be between 0 and the total size of the widget.
 
         Returns the new position of sash number index."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "sashpos", index, newpos)
+        return self.tk.getint(self.tk.call(self._w, "sashpos", index, newpos))
 
 PanedWindow = Panedwindow # Tkinter name compatibility
 
@@ -1181,14 +1197,15 @@
         If column is specified, returns the bounding box of that cell.
         If the item is not visible (i.e., if it is a descendant of a
         closed item or is scrolled offscreen), returns an empty string."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "bbox", item, column)
+        return self._getints(self.tk.call(self._w, "bbox", item, column)) or ''
 
 
     def get_children(self, item=None):
         """Returns a tuple of children belonging to item.
 
         If item is not specified, returns root children."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "children", item or '') or ()
+        return self.tk.splitlist(
+                self.tk.call(self._w, "children", item or '') or ())
 
 
     def set_children(self, item, *newchildren):
@@ -1229,7 +1246,7 @@
     def exists(self, item):
         """Returns True if the specified item is present in the tree,
         False otherwise."""
-        return bool(self.tk.call(self._w, "exists", item))
+        return bool(self.tk.getboolean(self.tk.call(self._w, "exists", item)))
 
 
     def focus(self, item=None):
@@ -1311,7 +1328,7 @@
     def index(self, item):
         """Returns the integer index of item within its parent's list
         of children."""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "index", item)
+        return self.tk.getint(self.tk.call(self._w, "index", item))
 
 
     def insert(self, parent, index, iid=None, **kw):
@@ -1420,7 +1437,7 @@
         value of given column in given item to the specified value."""
         res = self.tk.call(self._w, "set", item, column, value)
         if column is None and value is None:
-            return _dict_from_tcltuple(res, False)
+            return _dict_from_tcltuple(self.tk.splitlist(res), False)
         else:
             return res
 
@@ -1451,7 +1468,8 @@
         all items which have the specified tag.
 
         * Availability: Tk 8.6"""
-        return self.tk.call(self._w, "tag", "has", tagname, item)
+        return self.tk.getboolean(
+                self.tk.call(self._w, "tag", "has", tagname, item))
 
 
 # Extensions
@@ -1523,7 +1541,8 @@
 
             self.label.place_configure(x=x, y=y)
 
-        from_, to = self.scale['from'], self.scale['to']
+        from_ = _to_number(self.scale['from'])
+        to = _to_number(self.scale['to'])
         if to < from_:
             from_, to = to, from_
         newval = self._variable.get()